Unresponsiveness: Causes & Reasons

Do not use in emergencies, if pregnant, if under 18, or as a substitute for a doctor’s advice or diagnosis. Learn more

Possible Causes for Unresponsiveness

He was unresponsive, which was attributed to alcohol intoxication. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

On Nov.9, police and firefighters found Vaibhev Loomba, 20, at the Zeta Psi fraternity on Bancroft Way after responding to reports of an unresponsive male. [dailycal.org]

The individual may become extremely disoriented, unresponsive or unconscious, with shallow breathing. [answers.yahoo.com]

Hypoglycemia

In some cases of hypoglycemia, failing to resolve the low blood sugar can result in coma. [healthcentral.com]

To report a case that substantiates the presence of hypoglycemia at the time of death of a young man with type 1 diabetes, who was found unresponsive in his undisturbed bed [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Because of his unresponsiveness to medical therapy and his family's preference, he underwent laparoscopic pancreatectomy to reduce morbidity and hospital stay. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Hypertension

Recommendations for pharmacologic treatment are based on symptomatic hypertension, evidence of endorgan damage, stage 2 hypertension, stage 1 hypertension unresponsive to [aafp.org]

Recommendations for pharmacologic treatment are based on symptomatic hypertension, evidence of end-organ damage, stage 2 hypertension, stage 1 hypertension unresponsive to [web.archive.org]

The NHBPEP recommends medication for children with stage 2 hypertension or for hypertension that is unresponsive to lifestyle modification (6). [doi.org]

Alcohol Abuse

Confusion Memory problems Concentration problems Alcohol poisoning Breathing problems Car crashes and other accidents Risky behavior Violent behavior Suicide and homicide Coma [itmattersks.org]

These effects can include: Reduced inhibitions Slurred speech Motor impairment Confusion Memory problems Concentration problems Coma Breathing problems Death Other risks of [niaaa.nih.gov]

In some cases, a person can slip into a coma. For some individuals who binge drink, it is a more of a party-specific activity than an ongoing practice. [americanaddictioncenters.org]

Stroke

He was unresponsive, which was attributed to alcohol intoxication. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

For example, if people are in a coma or unresponsive (as may result from brain herniation), mechanical ventilation (with a breathing tube inserted through the mouth or nose [msdmanuals.com]

Ischemic stroke with coma Ischemic stroke without coma Ischemic stroke wo coma Lacunar infarction Lacunar stroke Left anterior cerebral artery occlusion w stroke Left anterior [icd9data.com]

Liver Cirrhosis

Early signs of toxin accumulation in the brain ( Hepatic Encephalopathy ) may include neglect of personal appearance, unresponsiveness, forgetfulness, concentration problems [liver.ca]

These toxins can dull mental functioning and cause personality changes, coma and even death. [health24.com]

With time, hepatic encephalopathy can progress to unresponsiveness or coma. Jaundice. [mayoclinic.org]

Syncope

[…] head Administer aromatic ammonia inhalant Reevaluate vital signs If patient’s condition deteriorates Activate EMS Monitor vital signs If at any time the patient becomes unresponsive [dentalcare.com]

You become unresponsive, lose muscle tone and may fall. Its occurrence is fairly common and increases with age. [luriechildrens.org]

[…] called angioneurotic edema) Allergy testing A low blood sugar level (hypoglycemia) Fainting after a period of other symptoms, including confusion, shakiness, and sweating Unresponsiveness [merckmanuals.com]

Hyponatremia

People may become unresponsive, aroused only by vigorous stimulation (stupor), and eventually cannot be aroused (coma). Death may follow. [merckmanuals.com]

En route, she became unresponsive, and subsequent treatment included intravenous normal saline. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

ODS is potentially reversible, even in severely affected patients who are quadriplegic, unresponsive, and ventilator dependent. [journal.chestnet.org]

Head Trauma

A 2-year-old girl was found unresponsive in her house and could not be resuscitated. A 27" CRTT was found fallen from its stand onto the floor at the scene. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

She experienced loss of consciousness and was found unresponsive at the scene. She was intubated and then transported via helicopter to the level I trauma center. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is often used to assess head injuries. [nhs.uk]

Traumatic Brain Injury

More serious head injuries may result in stupor, an unresponsive state, but one in which an individual can be aroused briefly by a strong stimulus, such as sharp pain; coma [ninds.nih.gov]

A four-year-old boy in a persistent unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS) was treated with intranasal murine NGF administration 6 months after severe TBI. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

a state in which an individual is totally unconscious, unresponsive, unaware, and unarousable; vegetative state, in which an individual is unconscious and unaware of his [ninds.nih.gov]

Dementia

[…] patterns sudden changes in mood or personality hallucinations or delusions difficulty concentrating or focusing on a single subject disorganized thinking, speech, or behavior unresponsiveness [medicalnewstoday.com]

Use of benzodiazepines should be reserved for alcohol withdrawal symptoms/delirium tremens or severe generalized anxiety disorder unresponsive to other therapies. 5 Don’t [choosingwisely.org]

Jewell began refusing food altogether and soon slipped into a coma. Dr. Jewell and his children were with her when she died, at 89. Continue reading the main story [web.archive.org]

Acidosis

In combination with other therapy, such as intravenous glucose, this hyperosmolarity may be critical and even cause coma. [acid-base.com]

Patients who are unresponsive to fluid administration should be given vasopressors. [calpoison.org]

In severe unresponsive metabolic alkalosis it may be necessary to administer hydrochloric acid or institute peritoneal dialysis. [acid-base.com]

Diabetes Mellitus

She was unresponsive to oral sulfonylurea therapy and is currently managed with metformin. Her mother, who had the same ABCC8 mutation, developed DM at her 30s. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

250.30 Diabetes with other coma, type II or unspecified type, not stated as uncontrolled convert 250.30 to ICD-10-CM 250.31 Diabetes with other coma, type I [juvenile type [icd9data.com]

Endocrinologists may be consulted when patients have a complex presentation or are unresponsive to initial treatments. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Meningitis

[…] bright lights being very sleepy or difficult to wake fits (seizures) Babies may also: refuse feeds be irritable have a high-pitched cry have a stiff body or be floppy or unresponsive [nhs.uk]

Sacerdote Response to a heptavalent conjugate Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccine in children with recurrent infections who are unresponsive to the polysaccharide vaccine. [analesdepediatria.org]

[…] above being sick a headache a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it (but this will not always develop) a stiff neck a dislike of bright lights drowsiness or unresponsiveness [nhs.uk]

Diffuse Brain Injury

[…] of Medical Ethics: 25:302-308,1999 24.日本医師会：医師の職業倫理指針（改訂版）平成２０年６月 25.日本医師会：終末期医療のガイドライン：グランドデザイン２００７－国民が安心できる最善の医療を目指して、2007.8 28.Laureys S, Celesia G, Cohadon F, et.al, Unresponsive [chiba-ryougo.jp]

age, years of education), injury characteristics (Glasgow Coma Scale score, MRI findings such as traumatic axonal injury (TAI), or duration of posttraumatic amnesia), symptoms [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

In the PROTECT III Trial, patients were included if the admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was within 4-12, whereas the SYNAPSE Trial only included patients with GCS 4-8. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Pulmonary Emphysema

The tachycardia and hypertension were unresponsive to metoprolol and clonidine but resolved gradually without intervention by day 35. [nejm.org]

[…] immunisation (34) Intensive care Adult intensive care (19) Mechanical ventilation (1) Neonatal intensive care (6) Paediatric intensive care (8) Neurology Cerebral palsy (27) Coma [ep.bmj.com]

The following are used to get a SOFA score; PaO2/FiO2, platelet count, bilirubin levels, mean arterial pressure, Glasgow coma score, creatinine levels, and urine output. [atsu.edu]

Benzodiazepine Overdose

BACKGROUND: Severe benzodiazepine overdose can result in coma and respiratory depression that might cause brain hypoxia, necrosis and delayed post-anoxic leucoencephalopathy [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Clinical Scenario An unresponsive young adult is brough to the emergency department. No history is available. [bestbets.org]

Hallucinations Hypotension (lowered blood pressure) Coma Death Benzodiazepine medications like Xanax, Valium, and Klonopin enhance the effects of alcohol, and vice versa, [americanaddictioncenters.org]

Schizophrenia

Using this rating, we assessed all trials of atypicals in schizophrenia unresponsive to at least one drug. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

We report a case of premenstrual mood changes in a patient with schizophrenia who was unresponsive to conventional treatment but successfully managed with dienogest. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

While many antipsychotics have been demonstrated as effective in the treatment of schizophrenia, a substantial number of schizophrenia patients are partially or fully unresponsive [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Acute Kidney Injury

Seizures and coma may occur if the condition is untreated. Fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base disorders develop quickly. [merckmanuals.com]

The increased mortality risk, however, appeared to be predominantly in patients unresponsive to diuretic administration.) [renalandurologynews.com]

Indications for Dialysis Pulmonary oedema unresponsive to medical treatment Hyperkalaemia ( 6.5 mmol/L) unresponsive to treatment Metabolic acidosis (pH Pericarditis Encephalopathy [web.archive.org]

Congestive Heart Failure

[…] the value of personalized medicines shows two sources of value: a market-expansion effect, and a market-contraction effect due to discontinuation of treatment by persons unresponsive [rand.org]

AICD placement MADIT trial showed that in patients with previous MI, EF 35%, non-sustained ventricular tachycardia, and inducible ventricular tachycardia unresponsive to procainamide [saem.org]

[…] with a very rapid ventricular rate, severe hypertension, acute valvular regurgitation), as well as for patients with pulmonary edema, severe symptoms, new-onset HF, or HF unresponsive [msdmanuals.com]

Chronic Kidney Insufficiency

Cause of death, chronic renal failure Uraemia: • Convulsions; • Coma; • Cardiac myocyte dysfunction; • Congestive heart failure; • Pericarditis; • Pericardial effusion; • [medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com]

It can cause vomiting, weakness, confusion, and coma. Kidney failure is treated with dialysis. A special machine filters your blood to remove the waste build-up. [familydoctor.org]

Unless dialysis or a kidney transplant is performed, ESRD can lead to seizures, coma, and sudden death. [verywell.com]

Bipolar Disorder

He was unresponsive to the usual pharmacotherapies for bipolar disorders such as mood stabilizers and second-generation antipsychotics. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Management Lithium prevents or attenuates manic and depressive episodes, maintained at 0.8–1.0 mmol/L; if the manic episode is unresponsive, electroconvulsive therapy may [medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com]

[…] after other treatments (such as medication or psychotherapy) are tried, or in cases where rapid response is needed, as in the case of suicide risk and catatonia (a state of unresponsiveness [nimh.nih.gov]

Encephalitis

[…] and cognitive decline Stage II Myoclonic jerks, seizures and dementia Stage III Rigidity, extra-pyramidal symptoms, progressive unresponsiveness Stage IV Coma, vegetative [doi.org]

Clinicians should be wary of this condition, especially when assessing patients with recent onset of psychiatric symptoms unresponsive to antipsychotic treatment. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

The prognosis of HSE is better in younger patients, and those having a disease duration of four days or less and a Glasgow coma score of 6 or less at the time of acyclovir [jnnp.bmj.com]

Conversion Disorder

She was first evaluated for causes of her stridor and unresponsiveness. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Upon admission to the hospital, he developed syncopal-like episodes of unresponsiveness associated with body-wide jerking and stiffening as well as tachycardia and hypertension [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

blurred vision, seeing double) Hearing Unresponsiveness resembling fainting or coma Material summarized from: American Psychiatric Association (2013). [mentalhelp.net]

Opiate Overdose

Once asleep, most users will remain unresponsive until treatment begins. [allaboutcounseling.com]

Police were called to a home on Bank Street Wednesday morning after a man called 911 to report his daughter was unresponsive. [news5cleveland.com]

On the morning of April 21, police and other emergency responders were called to Prince’s Minnesota home after he was found unresponsive in an elevator, authorities said. [heavy.com]

Brain Death

[…] state of coma in which the cause has been identified. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

A 40-year-old woman was found unresponsive by her family. Baclofen was found to be the responsible overdose. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Clinical signs of brain death are amongst others: Coma Unresponsive pupils Absence of spontaneous breathing during the apnea test Lack of brain stem reflexes (e.g. cough reflex [flexikon.doccheck.com]

Metabolic Encephalopathy

When to Seek Medical Attention Any person who displays altered mental function, unexplained confusion, seizure, weakness, or unresponsiveness should receive medical attention [healthcare-online.org]

Hypotension, unresponsive to volume expansion, points to intoxication with barbiturates or opiates, myxedema, or Addisonian crisis. [aneskey.com]

coma. [dartmouth.edu]

Diabetic Coma

The patient may be unresponsive or unconscious. A patient suffering from diabetic coma may appear to have the flu (influenza) or a severe cold. [firehouse.com]

Coma is a serious state of unconsciousness in which someone is unresponsive and cannot be woken up. [diabetes.co.uk]

Diabetic Coma Diabetic coma occurs when the body has too much blood sugar and not enough insulin. A person with diabetes may fail to take insulin for several days. [firehouse.com]

Overdose

In the most severe cases, alcohol poisoning can lead to coma, brain damage, and death (NHS). [aviaryrecoverycenter.com]

This leads to passing out, coma, and then death. Within 3-5 minutes without air, brain damage starts to occur, soon followed by death. [bumc.bu.edu]

If they are still unresponsive, call 911 immediately. [drugabuse.com]

Diabetic Ketotic Coma

We propose to change the term hyperosmolar non-ketotic coma (HNC) to diabetic hyperosmolar coma (DHC), because sometimes patients with hyperosmolar non-ketotic diabetic coma [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Abstract Hyperosmolar non-ketotic coma in diabetes is a life-threatening condition. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

[…] ketoacidosis and hyperglycemic non-ketotic hyperosmolar coma are: Diabetic ketoacidosis Non-ketotic hyperosmolar coma Definition Triad of: hyperglycemia, ketonemia and high [howmed.net]